Following up on my review of last Saturday and played again at Arroyo Trabuco Wednesday, 5/21/14, at 1:24pm with AMSmike for our GK Match Play round (South, Group 2). Greens remain very dry and firm ... Continue »

Following up on my review of last Saturday and played again at Arroyo Trabuco Wednesday, 5/21/14, at 1:24pm with AMSmike for our GK Match Play round (South, Group 2). Greens remain very dry and firm - I noticed a lot more "patches" on the greens today than I did Saturday, where the course had transplanted in squares or strips of turf to repair bare spots or holes. Greens really don't hold anything but wedge shots, with everything else releasing (or bounding) over the back. Every bunker I saw had a very wet base and only a thin layer of top sand. Much of the rough around some of the greens looks like it was cut with a weedwhacker, resulting in ugly, clumpy, spiky mess. This latter definitely needs attention - this stuff is very inconsistent to play from.

It's been a few months since I last played here. I was surprised how much the fairways have improved. They were actually green in places with a little turf on them. Normally the fairways here are so t... Continue »

It's been a few months since I last played here. I was surprised how much the fairways have improved. They were actually green in places with a little turf on them. Normally the fairways here are so tight and brown but much better this morning. Greens are also much better than last time I played here. Overall the course is much improved.

Staff was as always .... fantastic ! First off so pace of play never an issue. (once you get by maintenance it's clear sailing. I enjoy this course and with the staff being so accommodating, I try to get out here several times a year.

Played AT on Saturday, 5/17/14, at 1:00PM with sbarajasjr in our South Region Group round robin match, on a warm, sunny, blustery day. No response to my post on Meet-Play (as usual) so there was just... Continue »

Played AT on Saturday, 5/17/14, at 1:00PM with sbarajasjr in our South Region Group round robin match, on a warm, sunny, blustery day. No response to my post on Meet-Play (as usual) so there was just the two of us, and they paired us with some guys from North Carolina and we had an enjoyable round. Paid the twilight weekend rate of $74.

Greens were very firm and didn't hold shots well, so we all spent a lot of time chipping from behind the greens. All greens showed evidence of recent punching, but generally rolled well at medium-fast speed. There were scattered thin spots and a lot of dry areas, but generally the greens were OK. Fairways here are always thin and firm but lies are OK, and you get a lot of rollout. Sand was damp and heavy but had good coverage. Tees were pretty good, and rough was short and generally benign. The major hazard here are the ubiquitous ESA areas that line every hole, and swallow balls if you get offline. Wind was moving around and was present enough to be considered on every shot.

Friendly staff at desk and efficient starter - we went out right on time. POP was between 4 and 4.5 hr. Plenty of water available and saw the cart girl several times. Recommended.

Agree with the most recent review - the greens are much better than in the past. They were quick and rolled true. Still a bit firm, but that is probably due to the lack of rain. Fairways are typical... Continue »

Agree with the most recent review - the greens are much better than in the past. They were quick and rolled true. Still a bit firm, but that is probably due to the lack of rain. Fairways are typical Arroyo Trabuco. thin and tight, but they do seem to be getting "thicker". Staff as always was great ! First off so pace of play not an issue. however lots of maintenance to deal with today. Otherwise enjoyed the round.

Played Arroyo Trabuco on Thursday. Always love playing the course. It's fun with a great layout. Years ago they had trouble with the greens, but the greens are back and are rolling great.

Ever... Continue »

Played Arroyo Trabuco on Thursday. Always love playing the course. It's fun with a great layout. Years ago they had trouble with the greens, but the greens are back and are rolling great.

Everyone at the course is extremely friendly and they have one of the coolest 19th holes in Southern California, O'Neills.

The staff is one of the best I've seen and they have a very active social media presence.

All in all, it's a fantastic course with a great layout, beautiful views and a caring, professional staff.

Got out to the Arroyo in Mission Viejo on a Friday afternoon, twilight rate was $62 w/cart. Got around in 4.5 with a 12:03 time, we just finished before dark. Haven't played here in years mostly due... Continue »

Got out to the Arroyo in Mission Viejo on a Friday afternoon, twilight rate was $62 w/cart. Got around in 4.5 with a 12:03 time, we just finished before dark. Haven't played here in years mostly due to reviews here on GK, but I gotta say that I really enjoyed the course. It's one of the high end OC courses but deals are available if you look. Layout is rolling fairways lined with enviro-red stakes and several H2O hazards, strategic bunkers, and the like so it makes you pull out the rangefinder and think about placement on most every hole. Greens are ridiculously fast and the fairways roll like a slow putting surface ... every tee shot is an adventure. My usual 250 yd drive was rolling out 280, really. Course knowledge is a huge benefit here on many holes, especially the quirkey no. 6 super-short par 4. I could never see going for that green with driver. I thought the course was similar to S'berry Farms up the road but had a bit more character and eye appeal ... and adventure.

Hung out at the swank but warm 19th hole for a double Makers Mark ... it was very cold once the sun dipped behind the hills. Very nice place, and so is O'Neils the adjacent restaurant.

Never saw any of the green issues the previous poster mentioned and don't see what needs to be done to this course ... it's in very good to great shape. Just a different game with these very fast fairways and undulations, gotta play the course the way it's designed. Highly recommended.

Just played Arroyo Trabuco. The layout is great. But ...
There were black plastic linings coming up from around 4 greens that interferred with putting from the fringe.
Greens were cut too fine as th... Continue »

Just played Arroyo Trabuco. The layout is great. But ...
There were black plastic linings coming up from around 4 greens that interferred with putting from the fringe.
Greens were cut too fine as the dirt was holding spike marks instead of them disappearing in the grass.
Therefore putting was a challenge as was holding the green with approach shots - greens are too hard cut this way. The speed was fast - I like fast. Just need to soften up the greens. There were areas around some greens that had sod placed. So they are improving things ... just the plastic lining coming up is unacceptable.
Fairways were firm but playable. Usual divots in landing areas but most were filled.
Sand traps were fine. Well raked. Good sand - easy to get up & down from.
Teeboxes were good. Some not in play had new grass being grown. Those will be nice, someday soon.
Staff was excellent. Really friendly and attentive.
This course needs some improvements. I'll play Shorecliffs, instead, for the immediate future.

Played 11/15/13. This is my first time playing here. To start off, driving up to the clubhouse was impressive. I for one enjoy seeing facilities that show an attention to detail, it makes me believe t... Continue »

Played 11/15/13. This is my first time playing here. To start off, driving up to the clubhouse was impressive. I for one enjoy seeing facilities that show an attention to detail, it makes me believe that their course has the same attention. I was impressed with the quaint charm the facilities expressed. Walked into the pro shop as a single and was treated like a regular from the beginning. I paid and went straight to the first tee to join a twosome.

The course was a great experience. The variety of holes long and short, uphill and downhill had me thinking from the first shot. But at this course as i quickly found out the game here is on the greens. They rolled magnificently. One comment, stay below the hole if you want a shot at birdie !!!!! Fairways are hard and fast. rough is limited so be careful your ball can roll right through the fairway/rough and into the canyons..... So give generous room when you try to cut dog legs. Was only in one bunker all day and it was a fairway binker and it was in real good shape.

Groundskeeper and staff should be proud of the course they put out. I enjoyed it and this will become a regular spot for me.

Got out today and POP was right on 4 hours. Fairways are a little brown due to being bermuda but still in good shape. Not as much roll as I have seen but they provided an excellent lie. Some tees have... Continue »

Got out today and POP was right on 4 hours. Fairways are a little brown due to being bermuda but still in good shape. Not as much roll as I have seen but they provided an excellent lie. Some tees have been aerated but those in use are great, level, mowed and tee friendly. Sand was great in the bunkers, especially the two I was in. Greens are good, but did not appear to have been mowed today. And I hope I am wrong, but it appears to be some problems with a few of the greens on the back 9? I really hope they don't have to go through what they went through last year with the greens. Drop off attendant super. Clubhouse staff great. Starter great. Beverage cart on front and back, even with the cool temps. Marshal was prompt and kept flow moving. One of my favorite courses in OC and love playing here.